Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Newport News leads 13 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Households earn $16,098 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
25% less violent crime than Newport News
Rent averages $229/mo less ($980 vs $1,209)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Median income trails Newport News by $16,098/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Median Income
$16,098
$63,355 vs $47,257/yr
Newport News
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
25% lower
553.4 vs 736.0 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 13 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 13 and Tuscaloosa wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Newport News to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($63,355 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.